We Are PeopleStories

Victoria Keeys

An entrepreneur, photographer, leader in people & capability management and philanthropist – Victoria Keeys is the founder of PeopleStories, bringing passion, compassion, love and action together to drive sustainable social impact.

"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them humanity cannot survive."

Vic was born and raised in Hong Kong in a large working-class family. She has always said, “My father was a great man and has been a role model. He taught me compassion and how to value every little thing in life.”

After graduating from high school, Vic’s dream was to study at a university abroad and the only way to afford this was to enter (and win!) a scholarship competition which enabled her move to Australia. This turned out to be a life changing event with all the challenges a young Asian woman faced in the late 80s.

Vic's career in Human Resources saw her move back to Hong Kong where she found a lot of success but this was also the time of some of her biggest shocks in life, her father's sudden passing and her divorce. Undeterred Vic realised that she needs to “Face it and Live On”. This gave her the courage to look on the positive side and push forward as a single mother. She moved back to Australia without a job or network.

Staying true to her spirit and with the belief in “People” Vic’s determination and hard work led to a successful career in human resources and organisational development. This helped her to nurture her passion in developing people capabilities, culture, diversity and leadership. She enjoyed mentoring, coaching and supporting people to grow.

With extensive worldwide traveling, Vic enjoys experiencing new cultures and practicing photography which she learnt from her father. When Vic overcame major health challenges in recent years, she realised how fragile life can be and now often says “I am grateful to be alive. Life is a celebration and I live life to the fullest by doing the things I am capable now. I want to use my time, passion and skills to help other people fulfill their dreams.”

The perfect opportunity to pursue her passion arose when came to Singapore with her partner Olli in late 2017. Vic has been volunteering in Thailand, Laos and Cambodia while capturing compelling stories of courage, passion and dreams which she wanted to share with the world. This is when PeopleStories was born.

In today’s world, people are often caught up in the treadmill of work and the daily grind and it is very easy to take things for granted. PeopleStories allows us to reflect and to appreciate other people and their stories seeing beauty in diversity and sometimes even adversity. Additionally, there are also the charity projects which Vic is keen to make positive and sustainable impact through education so people can help themselves in the long run.

As Vic says, “PeopleStories is a gift for everybody to be inspired and take action. Join me on this journey of compassion, dedication and celebration”

Meet The Team

I am thankful for the kind support of my friends and trusted advisors who continue to support me with their wise counsel.Various concepts including Humans of New York, The Atlas of Beauty and Humans of Singapore have also inspired me along the journey.

​

Oliver Miloschewsky​I have personally seen many times how Vic manages to touch people's hearts, do good and to get a laugh out of them even if life is tough. PeopleStories is beautiful as it let's the world see and share in some of these encounters with simple people living extraordinary lives. The love and compassion shown for them is returned many times over. To be part of this in spreading happiness and tolerance is my personal motivation and a very good way to stay grounded and realize that there is more than a corporate world.

Donna WorthingtonSometimes you get the opportunity to be part of something really special, something that has the potential to impact people's lives in ways we never expect. PeopleStories is just that. A stunning expression of love and compassion through the eyes of the photographer and her ability to connect with people in raw, humanistic way.

Patrick LauWhat makes the difference between human and other species, some may say the use of tools, others the cognitive capacity to plan ahead, but for me, it is all about compassion, the unique ability to feel others' joy and pain, and creativity, the quality and determination to imagine, build and make things happen. That's the belief keeps me going in my years of work in helping profession, and as well the reason why I am so fascinated by PeopleStories. Through PeopleStories' creations, hope you could feel, experience and connect with the featured people as I do.

Christine WuI listened to Vic's work in Siem Reap and understood the opportunities she was providing to people would be life changing. Because I was able to make "choices" in life, I was empowered to be something more than what was expected of me. Everyone should be given the tools to fulfill their potential and make good in the world. As such, I joined Vic's journey and am proud he be part of the PeopleStories Advisory Board. Alongside with Vic and other volunteers, I hope to "teach people to fish" and not just give a fish.

Reshma ShekarI am an entrepreneur at heart, connector, inspirer and energy healer with a passion for creating authentic, memorable experiences and helping people live a more fulfilling life. My vision is to impact 1 million lives and very grateful as PeopleStories gets me another step closer to making this dream a reality. PeopleStories is about passion, compassion, love and action. Congratulations to Vic on making her dream a reality! Everything starts with a dream, so don’t hold back, be inspired and share the stories.

Simon BlackI’m really proud and privileged to be a part of this inspiring project. As a partner of a commercial litigation based in Sydney, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the daily bustle of city and commercial life. I am really excited to be able to assist Victoria in achieving her dream and being a part of this adventure, which will give me opportunities to remain grounded and keep sight of the truly important and special aspects of life.